Hong Kong's renowned film producer Shi Nansheng passed away on the 13th at the age of 75. As news broke, numerous film industry figures expressed deep grief and condolences. Throughout her life, Shi Nansheng mostly worked behind the scenes. With her background of studying in the UK and her outstanding management skills, she profoundly changed the Hong Kong film industry, personally nurturing countless superstars such as Brigitte Lin, Leslie Cheung, and Joey Wong, thus holding a pivotal position in the film world.
Senior Taiwanese media personality Mai Ruoyu recently reminisced about memories of Shi Nansheng on the current affairs program "National Assembly," revealing that Shi was not only exceptional in her career, but also played a crucial "strategist" role in the turning points of her close friend Brigitte Lin. When Brigitte Lin ventured alone from Taiwan to Hong Kong to develop her career, unfamiliar with everything, she received care not only through her own efforts, but also from Shi Nansheng and director Tsui Hark.
At the time, Brigitte Lin had been entangled for years with Chin Han, but the relationship was at an impasse because he had no plans to get married. The sensitive Shi Nansheng noticed Brigitte Lin's desire for stability and directly pointed out to her: "If you need marriage, you should quickly change your thinking." Following that, Shi Nansheng leveraged her business connections to introduce the fashion tycoon Michael Ying to Brigitte Lin. In 1994, when Brigitte Lin and Michael Ying held their grand wedding in Los Angeles, Shi Nansheng and Tsui Hark served as signing witnesses. Mai Ruoyu revealed that on the wedding day, Shi Nansheng, like a mother, specially reminded Brigitte Lin of two key things: first, "learn English well" to better connect with Michael Ying's business background; and second, "learn to use computers" so she could smoothly communicate with Michael Ying's children from his previous marriage.
In addition to being Brigitte Lin’s close confidante and strategist, Shi Nansheng was also renowned for her unique eye for talent. Now 61, international film queen Maggie Cheung was just a children's clothing saleswoman and model at a department store before she entered showbiz. At the time, director Yonfan saw her potential and introduced her to Shi Nansheng. Shi Nansheng noticed that Maggie Cheung was straightforward and outgoing, and though her rabbit teeth and looks did not fit the traditional beauty standard, she had a distinctive charm, so Shi recommended her to director Dean Shek. Unexpectedly, Dean Shek rejected her, saying she was "not pretty enough."
Afterward, Maggie Cheung confided to Shi Nansheng about her wish to participate in the Miss Hong Kong pageant. Shi Nansheng immediately and enthusiastically supported her: "Hurry up and go—it's a shortcut to fame!" Sure enough, Maggie Cheung became an overnight sensation, winning first runner-up and Miss Photogenic at Miss Hong Kong, successfully entering the film industry. Shi Nansheng once humorously recalled that years later, after initially rejecting Maggie Cheung, Dean Shek and others regretted it and tried to sign her, but by then Maggie Cheung had already signed with TVB. Shi Nansheng couldn’t help but tease: "Too late!"#
News source: China Times News